Why do schools teach useless information? Sure, knowledge is wonderful, but there is a such thing as "useless knowledge" Most people don't use Chemistry, Algebra, studies of Ancient Rome in their lives, yet they teach it. There is enough useless information out there as it is. Am I wrong?
2007-03-14 08:50:45 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
It sounds as if you are suggesting that information is useless until it becomes needed. I am a teacher and I often tell my kids stories and give them ideas to think about. I believe there often are more important "life lessons" in parables and anecdotes than in text books. But I also follow the curriculum closely because the government says I must. However, information is rarely "useless" as you claim. No one can see in to the future. One never knows what path their life will take and when any information will make their life easier or even better. I suggest the more you know
1. the more interesting you will be at the dinner table,
2. the better chance you have of impressing the person
interviewing you for a job, and
3. the number of people who take you seriously will go up.
2007-03-17 09:45:23 · answer #1 · answered by kennyj 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not useless information. You may not use the information but others may. Certain professions use various subject matter. Schools teach a little to everyone so we can eventually decide what we like and choose a profession that uses that information. We use chemistry when we cook. Adding baking soda has a reaction to my dough when it cooks. 2x = 10. Well, I have two people in the car that are hungry and I am at the drive through thinking if I have enough money for 2 value meals. What is x? So, I have to pick a meal less than 5 dollars for each of us. Studies in Ancient Rome, well, I'm sure there is a historian somewhere who uses that information. Also, if we didn't know history, we wouldn't know if we are doing better or worse.
2007-03-16 18:29:10 · answer #2 · answered by wildcat137 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, here's an idea for you. One of the functions of school is to help prepare you for life after school. One of the things that you have to do after school is decide on a field of work and get training in it. So many of those classes that you take provide not only the basic rudiments of knowledge help you learn your new job, but it also gives you exposure to the possibilities of a job in that field. Finally, on a more objective level, learning for the sake of learning is what keeps your mind growing and working efficiently. Even if you don't use chemistry in your day to day life (which is unlikely, because chemistry is in everything, down to the cooking we do), the knowledge that you learn from studying chemistry gives you an insight into your world that helps your mind stay healthy.
2007-03-14 20:46:42 · answer #3 · answered by toomuchtimeoff 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you are wrong. A lot of times what they are teaching you might not be important for the actual thing, like chemistry, but it is teaching you a process, a way of going about something that might be applied to something else in your life. A broad range of topics will give you a broad base of information and give you the skills to draw on to figure stuff out when there are no clear cut answers. It's teaching you how to think and how to learn to learn.
2007-03-14 16:42:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
A Z, IS IT? FROM ONES PERSPECTIVE COMES THE DEFINITION OF UTILITY. BOTH CHEMISTRY AND ALGEBRA ARE MATH AT ITS CORE. WHAT IS MATH BUT A MEANS TO COMMUNICATE NUMBERS, IT CAN BE A MIND EXPANDING EXPERIENCE DUE TO THE ASPECT OF IT BEING A LANGUAGE TO SOLVE A PROBLEM. AT FACE VALUE IT WOULD SEEM USELESS, HOWEVER IN TRULY SOLVING PROBLEMS LOGIC MUST BE THE CORNERSTONE AND THAT USE OF LOGIC IN THE MIND EXERCISE THAT IS CHEMISTRY AND ALGEBRA YOU ARE TRAINING YOURSELF TO BECOME A THINKER. DO NOT SELL YOURSELF SHORT OF SUCH A USEFUL TOOL FOR YOUR LATER SUCCESS. TO NOT LOOK FOR ONES PAST IS TO BE FOOLISH TO THINK IT WILL NOT FIND, YOU. THE STUDY OF ANCIENT SOCIETIES WILL HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD YOU LIVE IN TODAY. EVENTS THAT ARE UNFOLDING BEFORE YOU MAY HAVE HAD ROOTS OF CENTURIES WORTH OF BLOODSHED OR HUMAN FRAILTIES. BE YOU AWAKE AND TAKE STEPS TO LEARN ABOUT HUMANITY, AND YOU MAY FIND THAT THOSE ROMANS HAD THE SAME NEEDS AS YOU AND I. HOW FAR HAVE WE ALL COME IN MEETING THOSE NEEDS. GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED A Z.
2007-03-14 16:17:27 · answer #5 · answered by Rick K 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No you're not, but unless you want to home school your child.
That useless information will still be taught.
Though some of that information could be the difference between having a job or not.
2007-03-14 15:54:24 · answer #6 · answered by Earth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Algebra is used a lot more than you'd think. History is very important to know in daily life otherwise you'll be like those people on Jay Leno who don't know who the first president was. Also, it helps us understand why things are in the world. It also helps us for college where they teach things on top of that that are required.
Also helps us develop our minds.
2007-03-14 16:01:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I thought the same thing. Then I got a 99 on the ASVAB and it added 100 dollars to my enlistment bonus.
2007-03-14 17:59:13 · answer #8 · answered by Coyote81 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The more you know the better off you are. In short, learn something new each day of your life. You don't have to like the subjects, but nothing, and I mean nothing is better than learning,
2007-03-14 16:03:46 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some are more important than you realize. And things the main reason these are taught are because the state mandates that they most be taught.
2007-03-14 20:21:33 · answer #10 · answered by LoveStruckBoy18 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋